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The Total Package... And Then Some!
Written By: Interviewed and written by Bob Vickers I had a number of meetings with Darcy Donavan at her home and office while interviewing her for this story and I must admit I was totally impressed. This fresh new face has turned many a head in her short time in Hollywood with her "Drop Dead Good Looks" and "Down Home Type Southern Personality".
Darcy is not only beautiful, intelligent and camera savvy, but has the ability to attract an audience's attention while keeping in character no matter what role she is asked to play. While talking with Darcy, it didn't take long to realize that she's defiantly the "Captain of her own ship".
Q. You're not originally from California, what part of the country were you born and raised in?
A. I was born and raised in Nashville, TN. I love Nashville and it will always be a part of me. I am honored to have served as Miss Nashville when I was in the beauty pageant world. It was my way of giving back to Nashville.
Q. Your first love was music, who was instrumental in your early involvement with music?
A. My grandfather bought me my first guitar and microphone. He used to spend hours with me teaching me about music. I'd say that he was most instrumental in my life and with my music.
Q. You've done commercials, how old were you when you did your first commercial?
A. I was nine when I first appeared in commercials; it was a Tender Vittles commercial. Don't worry; I didn't have to eat them! My mother put my earnings in a savings account and when I was sixteen we used it to buy my first car.
Q. In Nashville you were right in the middle of launching a singing career, and then decided to pack your bags and move to Hollywood, what happened?
A. I love working in the music business, but I am also a dedicated actress and I knew if I wanted to pursue both careers, then I needed to move to Hollywood. Fortunately I've been blessed and I began working as an actress right away. I immediately landed a role in the film, Nature's Trail starring Rutger Hauer. Then I worked on Tom Cats with Jerry O'Connell, and then I landed a role on Passions. With so many acting jobs being offered to me, I realized I had to make a decision and leave Nashville to continue with my acting career. I still want to pursue my singing career, but right now I'm too busy. But, my fans always ask me, "When are you going to release your next album?" Due to the demand, I have been contacted by several labels.
Q. Let's move fast forward to the present, you were in the movie "Anchorman" and had a reoccurring role in the daytime TV show, "Passions". What other projects are you currently working on?
A. Since Anchorman, I've launched my own production company, Reel Vision Entertainment and we have three television projects and one film that are currently in development.
After reading several of our projects.We are working with Picture Palace Films to secure financing for their feature film, "Rails." Some of the acting projects that I'm involved with are "Lilith" which is a paranormal horror film and I'm considering the lead role in the movie, directed by, Andrew P. Jones. I can't say much about who's attached to that project other than me, but I will say, "You know these stars very well." I'm also in negotiations to co-star in a movie right now with Roland Kickinger (See Arnold Run; Lethal Weapon 4) and I would be playing a mob wife in the feature "Every Last One" produced by Carrie Derbidge of DreamWorks which starts shooting in November.
Q. Do you stay in touch with your family?
A. Yes, I'm very family oriented. My grandmother just came to L.A. for a visit and she got a taste of my day to day life. I had to take her with me on casting calls, to see my agent, Budd Moss and my manager Richard Kerner and then to a television interview. She said in her German accent, "Darcy! Just watching you go, go, go is wearing me out!" My Mother, Margie ******* and I are extremely close. She's the President of my Fan Club. She brought me up as a single mother who gave everything she could to support my pageant years, my touring schedule, my schooling and my acting career. I couldn't have done it without her and my grandmother's support. They are my mentors. My grandfather was the pinnacle, but he passed away when I was fifteen.
Q. Tell me something about being a producer and your company "Reel Vision" - the business side of Darcy Donavan?
A. I enjoy being a business woman in front and behind the camera. The business side of me is evolving with every project I take on. My fans are very important to me and I want to give them quality work.
My Grandmother -Inge *******
Many people only know the fun, charismatic, and goofy side of me. But when I'm in business mode, I'm an entirely different person.
Darcy's Questions
Q. One of your business associates refers to your home as an ark. Tell me about your love for animals?
A. I love animals. Just for starters I have four dogs, a lizard and a Bearded Dragon, named Skittles. When he's a little bigger, I'm going to start taking him to the red carpet events! People have always referred to my house as "Noah's Ark." I guess because I usually bring them in two by two.
Q. You mentioned that you get a lot of fan mail, tell me something about your fan club?
A. I have over three hundred thousand hits on my web site each month and it continues to grow. We are very excited about launching my new web site www.darcydonavan.com this month. We will offer fans live web cam sessions each month so they can talk to me LIVE, we will be holding contests and we are proud to donate a section of the site the victims of Hurricanes Katrina through the Red Cross. God willing we will not have to worry about Texas, but in the event that we do, we will do whatever we can to assist those affected by Hurricane Rita.
Q. How has Hurricane Katrina played a part in your life?
A. Other than my web site, I am volunteering for Steve Harvey's "Save Lives through Laughter" at the L.A. Forum. I have donated money, clothes and time to these people. I'm southern. And we take care of each other in the South. But, I must say, I'm overwhelmed with how the entire world is contributing to our nation's most tragic natural disaster.
Special note - Sunday, 09/25/05, 6:30 P.M. - Darcy just called me and told me not to forget to mention her Mother. She said her Mother was very important throughout her life and inspired her to never quit.
So here's a toast to Darcy's Mom, Margie ******* back in Nashville Tennessee. | 
